PCT Day 31

Start: 80.6

Stop: 85.7

Today’s miles: 5.1

Total PCT miles: 273.5

I slept so good! I even got up early, without any prompting, to get on the WiFi at the lodge and try like hell to get my blog posts up. That WiFi isn’t wonderful, but it was faster with the majority of the people with access being asleep still.

I was sitting there at 7am and to my delight, Maddie was down there too, sitting on the dock reading a book. There’s just something about some people that you just feel in your soul are solid and good and insightful in ways I don’t think I am. Even at 7am my heart felt a little heavy that they’d be leaving today.

I got breakfast right as they opened the door at 8am, another burrito, just as yummy today, too. I paid for my next WiFi voucher and continued on my mission to upload my posts. The pictures to download to the posts take FOREVER on good WiFi. It was slow going, certainly, and I definitely wouldn’t have enough juice to post my pictures to Facebook.. that’s gotta wait for another town and legitimate service.

I talked to mom and that always makes me happy. Yesterday I got to talk to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Keith, too. I’m missing home a little bit. Not having an easy connection out here has been more difficult for me than I imagined it would be. Simply because a week at a time is long when you’re experiencing incredible things, but can’t tell the ones you love about it yet.

I went to pack up my stuff at 9:30 and then left everything at the picnic tables to walk to the post office. My box wasn’t here! Noooo! The woman told me to come back later, like between 11-2 and hopefully it’s on the incoming shipment. Because this town is so remote, we have to wait on the daily ferry that brings the day’s mail. Ok, no problem.

I was shocked at how many of my new friends were willing to not leave out to hike until I got my box. Some definitely still hit the trail at a normal time, but Marquis, Margot, and Silky were dead set on not leaving me. A-Train, Drake, Wolf, and Pica already decided they were going to zero today regardless.

While we waited, some of us went swimming in the lake for a bit. Margo is a legit long distance swimmer and loved every moment of being in that very cold water. I swam a while, too, not nearly as long as her, but longer than anyone else lol something about beautiful water, cold or not, it’s meant to be enjoyed. And we did just that! It took awhile to dry off in the sun afterwards, but it was awesome!

My box wasn’t there when I went to check, and the woman told me to double check the bear boxes that the ferry folks put the UPS and the FEDEX boxes in. I told mom specifically to send it USPS only, and in a priority mail large box-but lo and behold.. there was my package! The one at least 3 other people waited to hike out for.. haha Thank god it was there, but I felt real bad that everyone waited around for me, and were willing to wait until 11-2 TOMORROW too before hiking out. Wow.

Once I had my box and was opening everything up and organizing-everyone was quickly like, “let’s get this next bus then!” Which was literally already parked next to us and about to leave. I rushed to get my stuff together, snatched my phone off the charger-hoping it had enough, and got on the bus. We stopped a the bakery again, on the way-and I got my 3rd pesto/mushroom/Heaven croissant and a cinnamon roll.

We got dropped off and naturally it was pouring down rain. We all got under a ranger’s porch waiting out the storm. Within an hour we started hiking. We made it 5 miles to a rushing creek and set up camp. Silky and Pebbles (Marquis) made a fire and the four of us sat around it eating dinner and laughing so hard I could cry just thinking about it. These three are just my favorites. Hilarious and yet still capable of quality conversation, too. Like fun to be around on the surface, but I’m certain I like them on a deeper level as well.. the trail does that-brings out vulnerabilities and causes people to get close quick. I love making these connections.

The fire is out and it’s a little more chilly than the last two nights back in Stehekin. I think we’re planning 14 miles tomorrow and will take it easy before hitting the snow. I personally really don’t like the idea of the snow that’s coming, but I’m praying that being with people will make it easier for me, and possibly even enjoyable too.
Ok, I’m tired. Goodnight!